Connor Sturgeon: Louisville shooter texted friend he would 'kill everyone at the bank' before rampage
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Minutes before the Louisville bank massacre, the 25-year-old gunmen and former employee sent a chilling eerie message to his friends saying, he was going to "kill everyone at the bank." Disgruntled Connor Sturgeon stormed inside Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky's downtown, on Monday, April 10, and killed five people and injured several others, including two cops.
Sturgeon allegedly live-streamed the rampage and left a note for his parents and a friend, explaining his intention to commit the rampage. He fatally shot Tommy Elliott, 63, and Joshua Barrick, 40, both senior vice presidents; Jim Tutt, 64, a market executive; Juliana Farmer, 45, a commercial loan specialist; and Deanna Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer. The gunmen also fired at Louisville Metro Police Department Nickolas Wilt in execution style, leaving him battling for his life in a hospital. Sturgeon was fatally shot during a brief police shootout and pronounced dead at the scene.
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'Connor Sturgeon allegedly messaged feeling suicidal'
Police revealed Sturgeon allegedly left a voicemail message with one of his friends saying he was feeling suicidal and would "kill everyone at the bank." In a horrifying police scanner audio via Broadcastify, a Louisville Police dispatcher can be heard "We have something additional on the shooter" while rounds of gunshots ring out in the background, informing officers about the Sturgeon. "25-year-old white male Connor Sturgeon, 6'4. He texted a friend – called a friend, left a voicemail, [saying] he's gonna kill everyone at the bank, feeling suicidal."
In addition, an Instagram account that may have belonged to Sturgeon, which is now taken down, allegedly posted ominous messages in the hours leading up to the shooting,
According to multiple TV news stations, the former bank analyst posted memes featuring two movie quotes, "I could burn this whole place down" and "I know what I have to do but I don't know if I have the strength to do it". He also shared another message with no picture, simply read, "They won't listen to words or protests. Let's see if they hear this."
What led Connor Sturgeon to go on a killing spree
Sturgeon is believed to have carried out the deadly mass shooting in rage after learning he was about to be fired from the bank, according to CNN. In another chilling discovery, the shooter was a star athlete in high school and suffered so many concussions that he had to wear a helmet at basketball games. This has prompted sources to link his repeated head trauma to other incidents where athletes have suffered concussions deemed to be an alarming condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, also known as "fistfighter's dementia". According to Mayo Clinic, CTE can lead to impulsive behavior and aggression, as well as mood disorders such as suicidal thoughts and emotional instability. However an alleged motive behind the callous shooting remains unclear.